Attorney Michael Lamonsoff Spearheads Human Trafficking Laws at Annual RESTORE NYC Gala
On Thursday, September 22nd, Restore Foundation held their Freedom Gala at Tribeca Rooftop in New York City. RESTORE NYC has created ground-breaking resources that make freedom real for survivors of human trafficking in the United States, with a goal for a life of hope, restoration, and flourishing, By providing Client Services, Housing, and Economic Empowerment, the organization help eliminate vulnerabilities that traffickers target and help make sustainable freedom for survivors a reality.
With human trafficking on the rise, this $150 billion global industry is the second largest illegal activity, only to drug trafficking. Right here in New York City, there are an estimated 10,000 people being trafficked.
The gala featured moving stories from survivors, chronicling the immense horrors victims suffer through as human traffic survivors, which brings us to the question: HOW DO WE STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING?
And that’s where the powerful remarks from attorney Michael ‘The Bull’ Lamonsoff emphatically
highlighted how victims will be empowered to fight back through a new law taking place this fall.
In 2022, Governor Hochul passed a series of laws, aimed at deterring and punishing the locations where traffickers operate. These laws specifically require transportation hubs, truck stops, airports, hotels, casinos, and establishments serving alcohol to train their employees on three important aspects:
- Recognizing individuals who are being trafficked
- Understanding the nature of human trafficking and
- Providing information on relief and recovery options to survivors.
Lamonsoff stated, “The failure to comply with these requirements open establishments to potentially punishing lawsuits. These laws will serve as a deterrent, discouraging institutions from passively facilitating or profiting from human trafficking.”
He steadfastly persisted, “This is a monumental step forward as it punishes those institutions that knowingly enable human trafficking. These new laws empower survivors to hold establishments accountable and disrupt the cycle of exploitation.”
In his earlier remarks, Lamonsoff emphasized that his possession of two psychology degrees has uniquely positioned him as a beacon of understanding. Through counseling survivors, he has translated his knowledge into empathetic action, forging a passionate drive that has evolved from empathy to righteous anger, stemming from his firsthand experience with the harrowing ordeals survivors have endured.
In addition to the new law that will hold institutions accountable for Human Trafficking, Lamonsoff’s firm has been a major player in helping survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault receive the justice they deserve, most recently being entrusted by dozens of survivors through the Adult Survivors Act (ASA) in New York. This crucial legislation empowers victims of sexual abuse that were 18 years or older at the time of the alleged abuse to now commence otherwise time-barred civil suits concerning abuse.
Regarding the ASA, the clock is ticking as it is set to expire on November 23 rd . Michael declared, “This legislation has served as a powerful tool, enabling us to shatter the chains of silence and impunity. We’re unwaveringly committed to holding both institutions and wrongdoers accountable, ensuring that survivors are not only heard but also receive the justice and compensation they are entitled to. And as we move forward in helping survivors, this fall’s new law will broaden our scope to encompass survivors of human trafficking. My unyielding determination to be their voice is fueled by my profound anger at the failure to protect the victims.”
For more information, reach out to Michael ‘The Bull’ Lamonsoff at MichaelTheBull.com or call him immediately at 212-962-1020.